Rome -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A cardinal from the Philippines , another from Austria and an archbishop from Ireland would be the `` least worst '' choices to be the next pope , according to a group representing the victims of abuse by priests .

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests , or SNAP , released its list Thursday as cardinals held meetings at the Vatican in a prelude to the selection of the next pontiff .

The three are Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines ; Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Austria ; and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin , Ireland .

Martin is not a cardinal , but SNAP noted that a man need not be a cardinal to be elected pope . Historically , the role has gone to cardinals , however .

CNN Vatican analyst John Allen , also a correspondent for National Catholic Reporter , wrote last month that Schoenborn `` certainly has the right pedigree for the job . ''

And Tagle has `` been a leader in pushing the church in Asia to take an aggressive stance on clerical abuse , '' Allen said in a series he wrote on the papal contenders .

Tagle would normally be considered too young for the role , but Benedict XVI 's almost unprecedented resignation might have changed the way the cardinals think , he said .

Wednesday , SNAP named its `` Dirty Dozen '' list of men it judged would be the worst candidates for pope because of their handling of , or comments on , past allegations of child sex abuse against clergy .

The scandal has shaken global confidence in the church in recent years .

A Pew Research Center poll published Wednesday indicates that U.S. Catholics see it as the biggest issue the Vatican faces .

Asked what they think is the most important problem , 34 % of the U.S. Catholics questioned mention sex abuse , pedophilia or some other reference to the scandal . No other problem garnered more than 10 % of the responses .

A report for Italian news magazine Panorama on Thursday claims that the church hierarchy was alerted to the problem decades ago , in 1965 but buried the warnings .

` Absolutely key '

Since Monday , the gathered cardinals have been holding meetings , known as general congregations , to discuss the most serious questions facing the church .

The last of the cardinals summoned to choose the next pope , Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Vietnam , arrived at the Vatican on Thursday .

No date has been set for the conclave , or secret election , for the new pope , said the Rev. Federico Lombardi , a Vatican spokesman .

But Cardinal Roger Mahony , the retired archbishop of Los Angeles , suggested that the announcement might not be far away in a tweet posted Thursday .

`` Days of General Congregations reaching a conclusion . Setting of date for Conclave nearing . Mood of excitement prevails among Cardinals , '' he said .

The 115 cardinal-electors -- those under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote for the new pontiff -- are taking time to prepare for what many see as their greatest responsibility .

Although some may be wondering why it 's taking so long to set the date for the conclave , Lombardi pushed back against the idea that the cardinals were dragging their feet .

The discussions they are having in the general congregations are a vital part of the process , he said , since once the conclave starts there wo n't be much time between votes for reflection or the exchange of ideas .

The cardinals have to have all the information they need in order to make a mature , responsible judgment in the election , especially at a time when the church faces complex issues , he said . `` The preparation is absolutely key , '' Lombardi said .

Celibacy for priests a hot issue , not just for church leaders

U.S. cardinals muzzled ?

Italian media reports Thursday focused on the Vatican 's move to end the news briefings held this week by American cardinals , amid concerns over leaks of confidential discussions among the cardinals .

Sister Mary Ann Walsh , director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , wrote in a blog post that the decision Wednesday came after a media report in Italian daily La Stampa , which gave details of who had said what .

`` I compared the shutdown to the old Catholic school style of one kid talks and everyone stays after school , '' she wrote , saying a similar thing happened before the last conclave in 2005 .

`` We 'll continue briefings , but without cardinals , to help U.S. media especially cover this exciting moment in the church , '' Walsh added .

It 's been a week since Benedict XVI became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign from the role . Popes usually serve until their death .

With Easter around the corner , many inside the Catholic Church would like to see a new pontiff in place to lead ceremonies .

Watch for the smoke : How is a new pope elected ?

` Mix and mingle '

All the cardinals , including those older than 80 , are entitled to take part in the closed-door general congregations .

Lombardi said 152 cardinals met Thursday morning . A second meeting will take place in the afternoon , as the cardinals seek to pick up the pace before agreeing on the date for the conclave .

Thursday morning 's business included reports on the financial state of the Holy See , Lombardi said . He named the cardinals who delivered the reports but did not reveal their contents .

The cardinals could continue their meetings on Saturday , Lombardi added , but are unlikely to meet Sunday when Mass may be held .

Interactive : A look at possible papal contenders

Some of the discussions happen over coffee , as one Vatican spokesman revealed Monday , the first day of the general congregations .

`` There 's a coffee break for about 30 minutes at a special buffet area in the front part of the audience hall , '' said the Rev. Thomas Rosica . `` Cardinals have an opportunity to go down and mix and mingle . ''

`` They want to say what the next pope will hear , because he 's probably in that room , and they also want to alert the people who have n't spent so much time in Rome just what the situation really is here as they see it , '' Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said .

The electors also want to go into the conclave with pretty clear ideas about whom to vote for , Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston said . They , too , have no interest in seeing it drag on , and there is no reason to believe that it will .

The past 11 conclaves have lasted no longer than four days , the diocese of Providence , Rhode Island , wrote on its website .

That was n't always the case . In the 13th century , the election of one pope took two years and nine months , the diocese said . Catholics grew so angry at the cardinals ' indecision from 1268 to 1271 , when Gregory X was elected , that they boarded them up in their chamber and tore off the roof to expose them to the elements .

The fiasco led to the creation of the conclave and its precise protocol -- partly to expedite the process .

What 's in a name ? Clues to be found in next pope 's moniker

CNN 's Hada Messia , David Schechter , Jo Shelley and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report .

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NEW : All 115 cardinal-electors are now in the Vatican

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Group representing victims of abuse by priests names 3 people it wants to see as pope

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U.S. Catholics say child sex abuse by priests is the biggest problem the church faces